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Saskatchewan agriculture minister cruises to election win

NDP's ag critic trailing, with mail-in votes still to come

Another incumbent agriculture minister easily held his seat as Saskatchewan’s governing Saskatchewan Party scored another decisive majority in Monday’s provincial election. David Marit, MLA for the southwestern riding of Wood River since 2016, held his seat by a spread of 5,177 votes over the New Democrats’ challenger, teacher Roger Morgan, with 459 mail-in ballots remaining

Cotton latest casualty in China-Australia spat

Australian barley, cotton and wine producers are now all under the gun

In the latest round of a China-Australia spat side-swiping agricultural trade, China has ordered cotton mills to stop buying Australian supplies. That word came Oct. 16 from an Australian government source and two China-based cotton traders briefed on the matter. Relations soured after Canberra accused China of meddling in domestic affairs, and worsened when Prime Minister Scott


U of M student Calum Morrison, along with Professor Yvonne Lawley, are digging into cover crop use on the Prairies in an ongoing survey.

Survey looks for those who’ve grown cover crops – or haven’t

The University of Manitoba study looks to quantify cover crop production across the Prairies

University of Manitoba researchers want to hear from producers growing cover crops – and those who’ve yet to grow them. The survey of cover crops on the Prairies is in its second year, and is calling on all farmers to tell them if they grew a cover crop in 2020 — and if they didn’t, what they

(Photo courtesy Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan)

Canary seed supplies tighten

'Hidden' stocks of product seen shrinking

MarketsFarm — Canary seed stocks are presently tight for two reasons: unreported inventories have been used up, and poor yields from this year’s crop. David Nobbs of Purely Canada Foods in Saskatoon explained there was a “hidden inventory over the last four to five years,” never reported to Statistics Canada, that was used to meet


UN

World Food Program seeking billions within six months to avert famine

Pandemic may double hunger worldwide, agency says

London | Reuters — The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) will need to raise US$6.8 billion over the next six months to avert famine amid the COVID-19 crisis, the agency said on Tuesday. The WFP, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week for its efforts to prevent the use of hunger as

Research critical to successful protein strategy

Research critical to successful protein strategy

Up to $100,000 in federal, provincial funds promised to develop a provincial research strategy

A well-aligned research community is crucial to meet goals set in the Manitoba Protein Advantage strategy, says the person who will helm a provincial research effort. This will begin by taking stock of what’s already available in the province. “What we want to try to do is to make sure that we’ve got that framework


(Video screengrab from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry via YouTube)

Federal fund, Alberta government back irrigation upgrades

Infrastructure Bank lends cash for system improvements

Eight irrigation districts in Alberta are set to tap into the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s new $1.5 billion pool of funding earmarked for irrigation, to receive loans worth about $407.5 million. The Alberta and federal governments on Friday announced a total investment of $815 million — including repayable CIB funds, provincial support and irrigation district contributions

Violife’s vegan cheese-substitute lines include cheddar-style slices. (ViolifeFoods.com)

Becel maker Upfield to relocate Ontario plant

Company to make vegan cheese substitutes, other spreads at Brantford

The maker of Becel margarine, Imperial spreads and, most recently, vegan near-cheese Violife plans to boost its Canadian manufacturing capacity with a move from Toronto to Brantford, Ont. The Canadian arm of Amsterdam-based Upfield said Wednesday it has bought a 164,000-square foot industrial building at Brantford and “brings a significant investment involving the purchase of



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Second Seeds Canada merger vote to proceed sans CSGA

Seed Growers membership had voted against amalgamation deal

A proposal to combine Canada’s seed industry groups into a single organization, to be dubbed Seeds Canada, will be subject to a new vote, this time with one less group on board. The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA); Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) and Canadian Seed Institute announced